Help us end corruption

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of the view that any reform taken up by the government should have full support from the people if it were to become a reality and implemented successfully.

Addressing the fifth Telangana Formation Day celebrations in the backdrop of Majestic Jubilee Hall at the Public Gardens after hoisting the National Flag here on Sunday, KCR called upon the people to join hands with the government in putting an end to corruption and establish highest standards in transparent administration.

KCR said that his government had already redefined the functioning of local bodies and enacted the new Panchayat Raj Act and was contemplating to come up with a new Municipal Act. It will also have a re-look into the Revenue Act and review it thoroughly.

The Chief Minister said, "I request large-scale people's participation for successful implementation of the new Panchayati Raj, new Municipal and new Revenue Acts. People for their day-to-day requirements do have connection with these three departments.

"If all of us come together, we can drive away corruption from these three departments with firm determination and then we will be able to infuse confidence and respect among the people on administrative systems and institutions," he said.

KCR said Telangana had always set an example as people have been highly conscious to reach and achieve societal goals. Their unity had led to creating a new chapter in the history of the country and the state of Telangana had become a reality.

On the new Panchayati Raj Act, he said while entrusting precise responsibilities and duties to the Panchayati Raj institutions, the required funds were being provided by the government from time to time.

In the framework of new Panchayati Raj Act, there shall not be any scope for corruption, the Chief Minister said, adding it was obligatory on the part of peoples' representatives and officers of Panchayati Raj institutions to take care of village sanitation and developing greenery.

KCR further said the proposed new Municipal Act will stipulate stringent regulations to ensure cities and towns were not expanded haphazardly and irrationally. With the changing times and situations, institutions and acts should also be changed, failing which the society would lag far behind in battling change, he stressed.

The Chief Minister further said the Revenue department came into existence at a time when there was a need for land revenue collection, adding the formulation of new Revenue Act would ensure that problems of land-owners were removed.

"The Revenue Act formulated during the feudal times had many loopholes which give scope for corruption. During the cleansing and rectification of land records, all these loopholes, became hurdles to government in its efforts," he said.

Similarly, the new Revenue Act which would be introduced soon will ensure that the problems and difficulties of farmers were removed as far as the sales and purchases, mutation process, registrations and provision of hereditary rights were concerned, he added.

The Chief Minister on the occasion announced that the amount given under "Rythu Bandhu" investment support scheme for agriculture, would be enhanced from Rs 8,000 per acre to Rs 10,000 per acre from this year.

He also highlighted various welfare measures implemented by the government and said with incredible resolve Telangana is moving forward in its journey towards growth.

"By giving equal importance to both development and welfare we initiated the process of reconstruction of the state," KCR said.

The Telangana Formation Day was celebrated in the offices of the Congress, BJP and various other government departments.